Thank you both for the up-vote and your comment @ajdohmen. :c)

Indeed you are right. We 'all' like to hear what pleases us. It is the more intellectually mature and honest among us who evolve beyond this to also take "the opposition's" perspective into consideration.

And yes, even then we often hold an attachment to our perspective on a matter. Such makes us feel a little special and we can sometimes take it personally if somebody starts to poke holes in it. This is natural - and yes I admire a person who can consistently rise above it all, whether or not their perspective on a matter is ultimately shown to be superior. The process is at least as important as the product.

One's religious outlook constitutes a pillar of who one truly is. To have an aspect of a pillar challenged is to feel that one has been addressed upon a personal level - and so one is naturally more defensive. I commend you for listening (whether you accepted it or not).

I agree. Outrage is not a legitimate reason to flag/down-vote a post or comment. An unreasoning "me too" down-vote is not something that I had even considered possible. I shudder at the emptyheadedness that such would require. O_o

Thank you again for your comment! :c)